The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a response tonight to the US handling of the incident over the errant balloon, after a US fighter jet shot it down off the Carolina coast today. The Ministry stated, as tweeted by the state-affiilated People’s Daily, that China had “clearly requested that the US properly handle the matter in a calm, professional and restrained manner,” but the US “insisted on using force, clearly overreacting and seriously violating international practice.” Further, “China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of relevant enterprises,” and will “reserve the right to make further necessary responses.”
On Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had issued a moderate response to the US postponement of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s planned visit to Beijing which was supposed to be Feb. 5 and 6. “China always acts in strict accordance with international law and respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. We have no intention to violate, and have never violated, the territory or airspace of any sovereign country. Some politicians and media in the US have hyped it up to attack and smear China. The Chinese side is firmly opposed to that,” it said.
